On August 22 of this year, Russia officially joined the World Trade Organization (WTO). This organization was created in 1995 to regulate trade and political relations between various states, as well as to promote maximum trade liberalization.
The WTO develops rules for international trade, and also monitors compliance with these rules. The headquarters of the organization is located in the Swiss city of Geneva. The WTO unites most of the countries in the world. Russia, joining this organization, became its 156th member. The WTO is based on three fundamental principles: equal rights, reciprocity and transparency.
The process of Russia's admission to the WTO dragged on for many years, and all this time the discussion did not subside: whether it would be beneficial for our country, whether many industries, and especially agriculture, would suffer damage. After all, they will have to enter into direct competition with the industry and agriculture of many developed countries, which are in more favorable conditions. Therefore, in order to minimize possible negative consequences, the Russian leadership obtained concessions from the WTO leadership on some significant issues. Thus, in particular, although the WTO rules prohibit direct support of its producers, Russia will be able to continue subsidizing its agriculture within the limits that exist at the present time. This, in terms of international currency, is approximately $ 4.4 billion annually. Moreover, in order to mitigate the problems of its agriculture as much as possible and fulfill the program of its modernization, Russia won the right to increase in 2012 and 2013. this support more than doubled - up to $ 9 billion a year. Only starting from 2014 it is necessary to gradually reduce the amount of support, and from 2017 to return to the previous level - $ 4.4 billion.
Similar measures have been taken in relation to some sectors of the Russian industry: automotive, chemical, metallurgical, production of mineral fertilizers, etc. Therefore, the fears that many of our enterprises will go bankrupt, unable to withstand direct competition with the best foreign manufacturers, are hardly justified.
In addition, it is no secret to anyone that corruption brings great harm to Russian business in general and manufacturers in particular. With the help of the WTO rules, it is possible to wage a more successful fight with it than it has been before. For example, a foreign partner, faced with manifestations of corruption in Russia, can seek help from the dispute settlement commission in Geneva, which is independent of the Russian judicial system, which, alas, is also very corrupt.
